Rick Levy has been named CEO of Paladin Artists, which is also currently in advanced discussions to acquire Entourage Talent Associates, the New York-based boutique agency started by Wayne Forte, it was announced on Monday (May 4).
Over his 25 years of senior leadership experience, Levy has served as founding partner, COO and general counsel of ICM Partners. He was later interim CEO of Just for Laughs and remains a partner in London-based agency Primary Talent International.
Related
Launched in 2021 by longtime agents Steve Martin and Andy Somers (later joined by Bruce Solar), Paladin Artists was founded in partnership with Entourage, along with Karrie Goldberg‘s The Kagency. Now, Entourage — founded in 1992 and focused around artists in the rock, blues and progressive music genres — is primed to become part of Paladin, where Forte has served on the board since the agency’s inception. Over his long career, Forte (currently president of the National Independent Talent Organization, or NITO) has represented and developed artists including David Bowie, The Cure, The Clash and Joan Armatrading.
“Paladin and Entourage have built a strong informal working relationship over the years, grounded in a shared commitment to artist-first representation,” said Forte in a statement. “When we formally bring our two businesses together, we will be positioned to expand resources for our clients while preserving the independence and personal service that define both organizations. I am confident it will be the first of many impactful combinations for Paladin.”
In a statement on his hire, Levy said: “What attracted me to Paladin was not the size of the company, but the size of the opportunity. Our edge is our ability to be nimble in the face of rapid changes in the ecosystem in which we operate. With an exceptional foundation, respected roster, and artist-centric culture already in place, I’m excited to lead the next phase of strategic growth to build the leading independent booking and live entertainment company in the business.”
“Rick’s experience building and scaling agency businesses make him ideally suited to help us guide Paladin through its next chapter,” added Somers and Martin in a joint statement. “We are thrilled that he has chosen to join our team. We look forward to creating new opportunities for our clients.”
Added Solar, “This is about expanding our capabilities to build for the future, strengthening our leadership team and creating an environment where ambitious agents and our clients can grow and thrive.”
